Incident
Officer Kenneth Pendergraft was shot and killed after confronting a suspect who was dumping garbage on his driveway at 7216 Winters in Fort Worth. Officer Pendergraft approached the driver and asked him not to dump garbage on his driveway. The suspect left but came back a short time later and opened fire with a .44 magnum pistol, killing Officer Pendergraft. Before he died, Officer Pendergraft was able to return fire, killing the suspect. Officer Pendergraft had served with the Fort Worth Police Department for 12 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, and two brothers, who also served with the Fort Worth Police Department.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Kenneth is one person.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Pendergraft gave the Fort Worth Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Worth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Pendergraft.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Kenneth Wayne Pendergraft served in the U.S. Navy (1968â1968) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Fort Worth Police Department has lost 59 officers; 33 of them killed feloniously.
Kenneth is one of 1,462 officers killed feloniously in TX, 60.3% of the 2,423 remembered there.
Kenneth is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Kenneth is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1980, 1 officer at Fort Worth Police Department was killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 28 years on record. The heaviest was 1977, with 3.
In 1980, 10 officers in TX were killed feloniously, the 54th heaviest of 180 years on record. The heaviest was 1928, with 19.
In 1980, 127 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 37th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1980, 141 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 37th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Kenneth was 34. Of the 32 killed feloniously at Fort Worth Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 44.3; the middle age was 36.5. Kenneth had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Kenneth was 34. Of the 1,330 killed feloniously in TX whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 37. Kenneth had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Kenneth was 34. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Kenneth had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Kenneth was 34. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Kenneth had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 6.1% of these deaths at Fort Worth Police Department; December holds the most, 24.2%. Tuesdays: 6.1%.
April holds 7.3% of these deaths in TX; December holds the most, 10.4%. Tuesdays: 11.3%.
April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
April holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 55.9% of all 59 deaths at Fort Worth Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 21.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 60.3% of all 2,423 deaths in TX, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 22.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Fort Worth Police Department has 59 officers remembered here, Kenneth among them.
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C. Lee Waller
Jun 30, 1892
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Andrew J. Grimes
May 12, 1902
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John D. Nichols, Jr.
Dec 22, 1906
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William Addison Campbell
Aug 12, 1909
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James R. Dodd
Jan 27, 1912
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John A. Ogletree
May 15, 1913
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R. P. Hollowell
Dec 26, 1914
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G. Frank Coffey
Jun 26, 1915
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Peter Howard
Aug 16, 1915
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George Francis Conant
Oct 27, 1916
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Charles Edward Parsley
Sep 28, 1917
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Sterling Price Warren
May 7, 1919
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George G. Gresham
Apr 8, 1920
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Jeff C. Couch
Dec 20, 1920
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John D. Bell
Aug 13, 1921
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Webster C. Gentry
Apr 25, 1922
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Lewis J. Lewis, Jr.
Mar 7, 1923
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Bertram F. Brewster
Jan 13, 1925
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Frank Maco
Dec 23, 1926
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George Turner
May 20, 1928
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Joe V. Graham
May 10, 1935
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G. Parker Driskill
Nov 11, 1935
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William J. Courtney
Mar 24, 1938
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Thomas C. Bounds
Dec 9, 1938
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Marshall C. Kennedy
Jul 16, 1941
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Walton Odell Whatley, Jr.
Aug 2, 1949
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Henry E. Cleveland
Feb 7, 1952
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Charles W. Hoffman
Jun 17, 1952
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Namon L. Cox, Jr.
Jun 20, 1952
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Marvin Elton Wills, Sr.
Dec 25, 1955
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James L. Dowdy, Jr.
Jun 17, 1956
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Claude H. Harmon, Jr.
Oct 16, 1957
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Loy H. Walton
May 20, 1959
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Thaddeaus James Stevenson
Oct 25, 1961
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Jesse Montgomery
Feb 3, 1968
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Hal Clovis Stephenson
Oct 2, 1968
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Edward M. Belcher
Oct 29, 1971
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William Vernon Welch
May 21, 1973
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Henry Paul Mailloux
Nov 29, 1975
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Ludwig Bruno
Mar 2, 1977
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Randall Lynn Fletcher
Aug 31, 1977
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Jesse R. Parris
Sep 6, 1977
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Jimmie F. Chadwell
Dec 11, 1978
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Ronald G. Turner
Dec 20, 1978
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James Curtiss Gaul
Jan 10, 1979
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Kenneth Wayne Pendergraft
Apr 8, 1980
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Darrell Gene Moon
Jul 14, 1980
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Robert F. Camfield
Nov 19, 1983
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Walter Stephen Taylor
Oct 5, 1988
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Brent David Wisdom
Sep 2, 1992
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Donald James Manning
Jun 27, 1993
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Alan Frederick Chick
Dec 27, 1993
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Jesse Don Moorman
Mar 31, 1994
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Henry Nava, Jr.
Dec 1, 2005
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Dwayne N. Freeto
Dec 17, 2006
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Garrett Willis Hull
Sep 14, 2018
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Eric Gonzales
Jul 5, 2020
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Jon Arden Jenson
Oct 28, 2023
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Billy Randolph
Aug 12, 2024
Where
Military Service
Kenneth Wayne Pendergraft served in the U.S. Navy (1968–1968) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Kenneth Wayne Pendergraft’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 24-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
58 officers from Fort Worth Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















